May 11, 2000
IOWA, Iowa - The Purdue softball team dropped its opening round game to Penn State 4-3 at the Big Ten Tournament in Iowa City, Iowa, Thursday afternoon. The Boilermakers (33-27 overall) scored three runs in the top of the first inning, but would see their lead disappear, committing three errors that would lead to three unearned runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
"Obviously this is a very disappointing loss for us," coach Carol Bruggeman said. "We came out with fire, with more energy and offense than we normally do, but the defense wasn't there. Give Penn State credit because they hung in there. We have to come out tomorrow and put it all together."
After shuffling the batting order, the Boilermakers jumped out to the quick three-run lead on four hits and one Nittany Lion error. Moving from her customary No.3 spot to lead off, sophomore Katie Crabtree ignited the Boiler rally with a single to leftfield. Andrea Roush, Purdue's single season leader in sac-bunts, moved Crabtree to second with her 23rd sacrifice of the year. Freshman Jessica Jones followed with an infield single to short. Bruggeman replaced Jones at first with freshman Jill Paxson. After freshman Heidi Foster went down swinging for the second out of the inning, it appeared the Nittany Lions might escape with no damage done. Skeeter Nixon, playing in her second Big Ten Tournament, erased any thought of escape with a scorching triple over the head of right fielder Karen Gulini to plate Crabtree and Paxson for a 2-0 lead. Nixon scored in the next at-bat on a Penn State fielding error off the bat of junior Lynne Tortorelli, making her first start since breaking her arm March 9, to run the score 3-0.
Purdue starter Meagan Dooley was impressive early, scattering three hits over the first three innings to hold Penn State scoreless. The Lions were able breakthrough for three unearned runs off the right-hander in the fourth, as Purdue's defense faltered committing three errors. Penn State would add on, what would prove to be the winning run on three singles in the fifth.
Offensively, Davie and Jones collected two hits apiece for the Boilermakers, who had eight hits on the afternoon. Dooley picked up the loss for Purdue, surrendering seven hits in 4.2 innings pitched.
The Boilermakers will play the loser of the Iowa-Northwestern match up in the double elimination tournament Friday at 2:30 p.m.